Filtered Master Socket Faceplates

[Odos]

Hi All, I've come across an ADSL problem and looking for advice, details below.

Just done some decorating, new carpet etc so decided to tidy up/renew my telephone/adsl wiring. Previously I had one telephone on a 10 metre cheapo extension lead from the master socket, filtered at the end of the lead. My router was direct from the front of the master socket on a 5 metre cat5 cable. On a good day it would sync in the 3500 range, but usually around 3200

I've now fitted a new ADSLNation filtered faceplate to the master socket and hard wired into the back of it. The new cabling I've used is all twisted pair solid core telephone cable to BT specs. The telephone is on a 5 metre cable run from the master socket to a standard extension socket and the router is on a 3 metre cable run to an extension socket from ADSLNation, then from there a 0.5 metre Cat5 conection lead to the router.

Now the problem is this. My router won't sync above the 2700 if going through the faceplate and new extension. Removing the telephone extension lead makes no difference either. If I connect direct into the test socket with the cat5 lead then I get my usual sync speed. If I remove all leads from the filtered faceplate so it is just a bare faceplate, and then using the Cat5 lead conected into the ADSL socket on the front of the plate the problem re-appears, namely it wont sync above 2700, so obviously the faceplate is the problem.

I've done some reading up on this and from what I can find out on the net, the actual physical layout of the filter components on the PCB can have an adverse affect on ADSL speeds in certain situations, especially on long lines. I don't understand the technicalities of it but from what I can make out a low pass filter is always a compromise and so they are usually designed for the "normal" or "usual" situations.

Having said all that what I would like to ask is this, does anyone know of another brand of filtered faceplate with hardwire conections on the back for both ADSL and voice that they would recommend ?

Thanks
  Tony

[Rik]

Whilst I'm a great fan of the ADSL Nation xf-1e filters, Tony, I have heard of other people experiencing problems with the filtered faceplate.

You might want to try one from Clarity, they generally get good reviews:

http://www.clarity.it/telecoms/adsl_bits.htm

[Odos]

Thanks Rik,

I'll order one and see if it is any better suited to my line conditions


Cheers
  Tony

[Rik]

Let us know how you get on, it all adds to the communal database in the sky.

[colirv]

You might want to try one from Clarity, they generally get good reviews:

They certainly get one from me - pricey but did the bis.

[Odos]

Just a quick update, the face plate finally arrived from Clarity, fitted it and I have exactly the same problem as I did with the ADSL Nation one.     

The only thing I can think of now is either the filters are picking up something from my Dect phone or there's something screwy happening with my line. I tend to lean towards the latter explaination as I've had some rather weird things happen in the past. The last one occured just a few months ago and it was the classic one of losing my connection completely and I kept getting wrong number phone calls. It turned out that BT had cross connected my line with someone else 

Anyways I'll just have to suffer the lower speed for now until I find something else to try 

Cheers
   Tony

[Rik]

Hi Tony

Have you asked support to test your line?

[Odos]

Have you asked support to test your line?

I don't honestly think there would be much point Rik. I have no issues with the connection actually working or with voice. It's just that it syncs faster if I use a filter on the phone instead of at the faceplate. The SNR and attenuation stay the same, it's just the sync speed that alters.

I can't go back to how I used to have things because after decorating, my other half would not be best pleased if I now run a cat5 cable along the top of the new carpet or freshly painted skirting board. In other words in the interests of survival I'll grin and bear it   

If it gets on my nerves too much in the furture I'll try giving support a call, but for now I'll let things settle for a while.

Cheers
   Tony

[Rik]

Hi Tony

Have you tried powering down the phone, to see if it's radiating interference at all?

[jimc]

you could try replacing the BT cable with CAT5 all the way as it is significantly superior than bog standard BT wire

[Odos]

you could try replacing the BT cable with CAT5 all the way as it is significantly superior than bog standard BT wire

Hi jimc, trying it with cat5 cable was the first thing I did but it didn't make any difference, the problem seems to reside in the filtered master faceplates and not the cabling.

Have you tried powering down the phone, to see if it's radiating interference at all?

Hi Rik, tried your suggestion today of powering off the phone base unit and moving the phones themselves as far away as posiible into another part of the house. Made no difference I'm afraid.

I've now given up and gone back to using the standard faceplate with a filter at the phone.

Thanks for all your replies

Cheers
     Tony

[Rik]

If you ever find out what was happening, Tony, do let us know. It's one of those frustrating "it should work" situations.